New York Title IX Attorney

If you're facing a Title IX sexual misconduct charge, the very first thing you need to know is that you need help. Your very future is at stake. The minimum penalty in such cases is usually suspension. More likely, your school will try to expel you if you're found responsible (guilty). Yet, it's not easy to defend yourself. Title IX is a complicated law, and it can be difficult to navigate a school's judicial procedures.

Luckily there is help out there. Under Title IX guidelines, you are entitled to choose an advisor, someone to help you prepare your defense. Furthermore, that advisor can be an attorney. You don't want just any attorney, though. You want an attorney who understands Title IX and has experience taking on school faculty and administrators. You need a Title IX attorney.

How Title IX Works

What makes a Title IX accusation so difficult to deal with? Partly, it's the complexity of the process and the many rules that are involved. Here's how things are supposed to work:

• All schools must have a Title IX Coordinator. Anyone at your school can accuse you. In fact, at some schools, all faculty and staff are required to report any knowledge they may have of an incident. However, only a complainant—the person who's alleging they were harmed—or the Coordinator may actually sign a formal complaint.
• Once a complaint has been signed, the Coordinator must notify you of the charges. This notification will include the complainant's name and the important details of the allegation. It will also make you aware of your rights. Among these, you have the right to be presumed “not responsible” (innocent) until proven responsible. You also have the right to an advisor.
• Next, the Coordinator assigns an Investigator to pursue the case. This Investigator will collect physical evidence and interview witnesses. Perhaps their most important job, though, is to meet separately with you and the complainant and get both sides of the story.
• At the conclusion of the investigation, the Investigator writes a report summarizing their findings. Both sides have ten days to study this report and suggest any revisions. Then, it's forwarded on to the Coordinator.
• If you are a college student, you are entitled to defend yourself at a live hearing. Many high schools hold hearings as well, though Title IX does not require it.
• At a hearing, you'll have the opportunity to present evidence and call witnesses, though your advisor must ask all the questions. You also have the right to question the complainant and to cross-examine any witnesses against you. Of course, the complainant has the same rights.
• Typically, schools appoint a single Hearing Officer to preside over the hearing and decide the case, though some use a panel of three or even five decision-makers. Once you and the complainant have both had an opportunity to present your cases, the decision-makers must determine whether you are responsible or not. To do this, they use something known as the “preponderance of evidence” standard. Most of us have heard of the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal court cases. “Preponderance of evidence” is far less strict. Decision-makers must find you responsible if they believe it is more than fifty percent likely that you committed a violation.
• You can appeal the hearing decision. So can the complainant. Typically, there is a time limit on filing an appeal. In addition, appeals are only granted for very specific reasons, such as

◦ Procedural mistakes

◦ Bias on the part of a Title IX official

◦ The discovery of new evidence

One of the important advantages of hiring a Title IX attorney is that they will be familiar with all aspects of this process. That puts them in a great position to guide you through it and to make sure that your school treats you fairly at every step along the way.

Choosing an Advisor

Of course, it's one thing to recognize you need an attorney. It's another to have to go through the process of finding one. What should you look for, and how do you know if you've found the right person to represent you?

First, it's important to remember that you don't just want any attorney. You may be tempted, for instance, to hire someone locally or use a family attorney. Family attorneys are great for drafting wills or dealing with minor disputes, but they aren't equipped to deal with a Title IX accusation. Title IX is a federal law. It has a fifty-year history and is subject to frequent political debate. Only someone who has spent years studying the law and has experience defending clients will understand it well enough to protect your rights. You need a Title IX attorney.

Keep in mind as well: your attorney doesn't have to be based in New York. Title IX is a federal law, so what matters most is that the person you choose be qualified. How can you tell if an attorney is qualified? Ask three important questions:

• How many Title IX cases has the attorney dealt with?
• What is the attorney's success rate with Title IX cases?
• What specific strategy will the attorney use to deal with your case?

Only when you have the answers to these questions can you truly know if someone is a right fit for you.

Joseph D. Lento, Title IX Attorney

Joseph D. Lento is a nationally recognized Title IX attorney. He built his career defending students from sexual misconduct charges. He's helped hundreds of students, just like you, defend themselves from accusations of harassment, stalking, dating violence, and rape. He's seen schools bend the rules to convict innocent students. He knows that schools use sanctions that are totally out of proportion to the nature of the crime. He's determined to stop them, to make sure you're treated fairly.

Joseph D. Lento knows the law. He's practiced at negotiating with faculty and administrators. Put his knowledge, his background, and his experience to work for you.

If you or your child have been accused of Title IX sexual misconduct in New York, don't wait. Contact the Lento Law Firm's New York office today, at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.

New York colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's Title IX advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:

State University of New York (SUNY):

SUNY University Centers

• State University of New York at Buffalo
• Binghamton University
• Stony Brook University
• University at Albany, State University of New York

SUNY Technology College

• Alfred State College
• State University of New York at Canton
• State University of New York at Cobleskill
• State University of New York at Delhi
• State University of New York at Farmingdale
• State University of New York at Morrisville
• State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
• State University of New York Maritime College

SUNY Comprehensive Colleges

• Buffalo State College
• Empire State College, Saratoga Springs
• State University of New York at Brockport
• State University of New York at Cortland
• State University of New York at Fredonia
• State University of New York at Geneseo
• State University of New York at New Paltz
• State University of New York at Old Westbury
• State University of New York at Oswego
• State University of New York at Plattsburgh
• State University of New York at Potsdam
• Crane School of Music
• State University of New York at Purchase

SUNY Specialized Doctoral Granting Units

• State University of New York Downstate Medical Center
• State University of New York Upstate Medical University
• State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• State University of New York State College of Optometry

SUNY Community Colleges

• Adirondack Community College
• Broome Community College
• Cayuga County Community College
• Clinton Community College
• Columbia-Greene Community College
• Corning Community College
• Dutchess Community College
• Erie Community College
• Fashion Institute of Technology
• Finger Lakes Community College
• Fulton-Montgomery Community College
• Genesee Community College
• Herkimer County Community College
• Hudson Valley Community College
• Jamestown Community College
• Jefferson Community College
• Mohawk Valley Community College
• Monroe Community College
• Nassau Community College
• Niagara County Community College
• North Country Community College
• Onondaga Community College
• Orange County Community College
• Rockland Community College
• Schenectady County Community College
• Suffolk County Community College
• Sullivan County Community College
• Tompkins Cortland Community College
• Ulster County Community College
• Westchester Community College

SUNY State-wide Colleges

• Empire State College
• SUNY Learning Network

CUNY Senior Colleges and Graduate Schools

• Baruch College
• Brooklyn College
• City College
• Sophie Davis - School of Biomedical Education; School of Professional Studies
• College of Staten Island
• CUNY Graduate Center
• CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
• CUNY Law School
• Hunter College
• John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Lehman College
• Medgar Evers College
• New York City College of Technology at MetroTech
• Queens College
• Aaron Copland School of Music
• York College

CUNY Community Colleges

• Borough of Manhattan Community College
• Bronx Community College, University Heights
• Guttman Community College
• Hostos Community College
• Kingsborough Community College
• LaGuardia Community College
• Queensborough Community College

Federal-Service Academies

• United States Merchant Marine Academy (exempt from Title IX and the Clery Act)
• United States Military Academy (exempt from Title IX and the Clery Act)

Private Colleges and Universities

• Adelphi University
• Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Alfred University
• American Museum of Natural History; Richard Gilder Graduate School
• Bank Street College of Education
• Bard College
• Barnard College
• Brooklyn Law School
• Cazenovia College
• Clarkson University
• Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; Watson School of Biological Sciences (graduate school)
• Colgate University
• Columbia University
• College of Dental Medicine
• Columbia Business School
• Columbia College
• Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
• Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
• Columbia Law School
• Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Graduate School of Journalism
• Mailman School of Public Health
• School of the Arts
• School of General Studies
• School of International and Public Affairs
• School of Social Work
• School of Nursing
• College of Physicians and Surgeons
• School of Professional Studies
• Cooper Union
• Cornell University
• Cornell Tech
• Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
• Weill Cornell Medicine
• Culinary Institute of America
• Daemen College
• Dowling College
• Elmira College
• Hamilton College
• Hartwick College
• Helene Fuld College of Nursing
• Hobart and William Smith Colleges
• Hofstra University
• Frank G. Zarb School of Business
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Ithaca College
• Juilliard School
• Keuka College
• Long Island University
• LIU Brooklyn
• LIU Post (formerly C.W. Post)
• Manhattan School of Music
• Manhattanville College
• Marymount Manhattan College
• Medaille College
• Mercy College
• Metropolitan College of New York
• Monroe College
• Bronx campus
• New Rochelle campus
• The New School
• College of Performing Arts
• Eugene Lang College, School for Liberal Arts
• Parsons School of Design
• School for Social Research
• The Schools of Public Engagement
• New York Chiropractic College
• New York Institute of Technology
• Central Islip campus
• Columbus Circle
• Old Westbury campus
• New York University
• College of Arts & Science
• Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
• Gallatin School of Individualized Study
• Institute of Fine Arts
• Liberal Studies
• School of Law
• School of Medicine
• Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences
• Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
• School of Professional Studies
• School of Social Work
• Stern School of Business
• Tandon School of Engineering
• Tisch School of the Arts
• Pace University
• Manhattan campus
• Pleasantville campus
• White Plains campus
• Paul Smith's College
• Pratt Institute
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Sage Colleges
• Russell Sage College
• Sage College of Albany
• Sage Graduate Schools
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Skidmore College
• St. Lawrence University
• St. Thomas Aquinas College
• University of Rochester
• Eastman School of Music
• College of Arts Sciences and Engineering
• Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development
• Simon Business School
• Union College
• Utica College
• Vassar College
• Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
• Villa Maria College
• Webb Institute
• Wells College

Private Colleges and Academies (For Profit)

• ASA College
• Downtown Brooklyn campus
• Midtown Manhattan campus
• White Plains campus
• Berkeley College
• Brooklyn campus
• Midtown Manhattan campus
• DeVry University
• Five Towns College
• Globe Institute of Technology
• LIM College (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising)
• New York Film Academy

Religious Affiliated/Oriented Private Institutions

• Canisius College
• College of Mount Saint Vincent
• College of New Rochelle
• College of St. Rose
• Concordia College
• Davis College
• Dominican College
• D'Youville College
• Fordham University
• Lincoln Center campus
• Rose Hill campus
• General Theological Seminary
• Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
• The Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music
• Hilbert College
• Houghton College
• Iona College
• Jewish Theological Seminary of America
• King's College
• Le Moyne College
• Manhattan College
• Marist College
• Molloy College
• Montefiore Medical Center and Yeshiva University
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Mount Saint Mary College
• Nazareth College
• New York Theological Seminary at The Interchurch Center
• Niagara University
• Nyack College
• Roberts Wesleyan College
• Siena College
• St. Bonaventure University
• St. Francis College
• St. John's University
• St. Joseph's College
• St. John Fisher College
• Syracuse University
• Touro College
• College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Manhattan
• Lander College for Men
• Lander College for Women – The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School
• Lander Institute
• Law Center
• Trocaire College
• Union Theological Seminary
• Wagner College
• Yeshiva University
• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
• Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
• Stern College for Women
• Sy Syms School of Business
• Yeshiva College

Title IX violations and Title IX charges can change an accused student's life if not defended against properly and as early as possible during the disciplinary process, and Joseph D. Lento has nearly a decade of experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New York and New Jersey, and is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX advisor and educational consultant to students facing disciplinary cases throughout the nation.  Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.